Switch box cover fastener



June 21, 1938. E. B. WORKMAN 2,121,620

' swrrcn Box COVER FASTENER Filed April 10, 1955 -I'NVENTOR [Q7672 BWar/(man Patented June 21, 1938 /UNITED STATES PATENT ossie toWestinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application April 10, 1935, Serial No.15,579

'1 Claim.

My invention relates, generally, to cabinets or boxes, and, moreparticularly, to safety latches for boxes suitable for enclosingautomatic circuit breakers or safety switches, motor starting switchesand the like.

An object of my invention, generally stated, is to provide a latch forthe cover of an enclosing cabinet which shall be simple and reliable inoperation and which may be economically manufactured and installed.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a latch which willpositively engage the cover of an enclosing cabinet.

Another object of my invention is to provide a latch in which either apadlock or a seal or both may be inserted to prevent opening the coverof enclosing cabinet or box.

Other objects of my invention will be explained fully hereinafter orwill be apparent to those skilled in the art.

According to one embodiment of my invention, a pair of pivotally mountedlatch members are disposed to engage the cover of a switch box. Thelatch members are biased in opposite direc tions by a spring in such amanner that shifting of the cover or distortion of the box cannot causethe cover to become unlatched. Each one of the latch members is providedwith a rectangular opening for the insertion of a seal of the fiat orribbon type. A semi-circular knockout is provided above the rectangularopening in each latch member and contiguous thereto, which may beremoved to permit the cover to be locked in the closed position with apadlock or similar locking device.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of my invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view, in front elevation, of a switch box having alatching device constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view, in side elevation, of the switch box shown in Fig. 1;

Fig.3 is a view, in section, taken along the line III-III of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the latching device.

Referring to the drawing, the structure shown comprises a cabinet l6having a cover or door H, which may be mounted on one side of thecabinet by hinges 12 or secured to the cabinet in any other suitablemanner which will permit the cover to be readily opened. The cabinet iiimay be of the type disclosed in the copending application of G. R. Runkeand H. S. Gano, Serial No. 8,658 filed February 28, 1935, which issuitable for enclosing an automatic circuit breaker or safety switch,motor starting switch and the like. However, the latching devicedescribed herein may be utilized on a cabinet of any type having a covermember.

An operating handle I3 is provided on the cover H for actuating thecircuit breaker or switch unit with the cover closed, as is fullydescribed in the foregoing application. Depressed portions M areprovided in the cover II to permit the handle l3 to be locked in eitherthe off or the on position by means of a padlock which may be insertedthrough a slot [5 in a locking plate I6 which is secured to the handlel3. If it is desired to lock the handle in the on position, it isnecessary to drill a hole in the upper portion of the locking plate Itwhich will be over the upper depression l4 when the handle i3 is movedto the on position. The usual nameplates l1 and [8 are provided on thecover H and knockouts I9 are provided in the cabinet Ill to permit thenecessary electrical connections to be made.

in the closed position that it cannot be opened aocidently by theshifting of the cover or distortion of the box, a latching device 2! ismounted on the side of the box opposite the hinges l2 to positivelyengage the cover II when it is fully closed. The latching devicecomprises a pair of latch members 22 which are pivotally mounted on theside of the cabinet it) by means of rivets 23. The cover II is providedwith a slot 24 through which the latches 22 extend when the cover is inthe closed position.

The latch members 22 are disposed in backto-back relation and they areso shaped that they may be squeezed together to release the cover. Asingle spring 25 is provided for biasing the latch members in oppositedirections to engage the cover H. As shown, the spring 25 is disposedbetween the latch members 22 and the side of the cabinet I and it passesaround the rivets 23 with one end hooked behind each one of the latchmembers. A common stop pin 26 is disposed in the side of the cabinet l 6between the two latch members to limit their travel when the cover israised.

It will be noted that each latch is provided with a hook 21, theinnermost portion of which is in vertical alinement with the center ofthe mounting rivet 23 when the hook 27 engages the cover II, whichinsures that the latches will not 2 In order that the cover II will beso latched released by hand when desired. The latch members 22 areidentical in structure and they may be out or punched from sheet-metal,or other suitable material, and readily mounted on the cabinet by rivetsor bolts, thereby providing a simple and inexpensive latching device.

In order that the cover H may be sealed shut, each latch member 22 isprovided with a rectangular opening or slot 28 which will accommodate aflat or ribbon seal. A knockout 29 is also provided in each one of thelatch members 22. As shown, each one of the knockouts is substantiallysemi-circular in shape and is disposed adjacent the top side of the slot28. In case it is desired to lock the cover H in the closed position oneof the knockouts may be removed, which will permit a padlock to beinserted through one of the latch members. If it is desired to use twodifferent locks, both knockouts may be removed and a lock inserted ineach latch, with a seal in one or both latches.

I do not desire to be restricted to the specific embodiments of myinvention herein shown and described, since it is evident that they maybe changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy invention as defined in the appended claim. 7

I claim as my invention:

A latching device for a cabinet having a cover,

. comprising 'a pair of latch members pivotally mounted on the cabinet,each latch having a hook disposed to retain the cover in the closedposition,

the innermost portion of each hook being substantially in alinement withits'pivotal support,

and a single spring for biasing the latch members in opposite directionsto engage the cover member, said spring being disposed around thepivotal supports for both latch members.

ELDEN B. WQRKMAN.

